Tag Archives: Election

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2024 election: Defy Akufo-Addo’s pressure, do what is right or prepare to face the consequences – Asiedu Nketia to security capos; urges religious, traditional leaders to speak out

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The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has issued a strong warning to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) to stand by the oath the swore and resist any undue pressure from President Akufo-Addo in the days ahead and during the December 7, 2024 elections.

Mr Asiedu Nketia, who was addressing the NDC national campaign launch at Tamale on Saturday stressed the significance of the security forces’ independence and neutrality, warning of dire consequences should there be any attempt to circumvent the will of the people.

The outspoken NDC Chairman whose christened his speech as a special letter the President and those in charge of the peace and security of this country was emphatic about the high level of disappointment, suspicion over attempts to manipulate the process at all cost and said those who allow themselves to be manipulated will suffer the consequences.

“If you fail, on the day of accountability, you will not have the president who is pressuring you now to come to your defence, you will be left on your own and your God.

“This is the time for positive defiance. You cannot be following wrong instructions under the excuse of order from above, no order from above. You swore an oath to protect this country – he added

Mr Asiedu Nketia continued – “My message to the IGP and the Chief of Defense Staff is simple, the day you were commissioned into leadership of our security services, you swore an oath to protect the interest of Ghanaians. You didn’t swear to protect the interest of any regime that is in power for the time being.”

He also advised members of the Council of State, traditional authorities, the Clergy and well-meaning Ghanaians not to sit on the fence but speak out on matters that threaten the security of the state.
Mr Asiedu Nketia’s caution comes in the wake of alleged secret recruitment of NPP foot soldiers into security agencies for deployment on December 7 to supress voters and appointments to the Electoral Commission to facilitate vote rigging.

News, Politics

Election 2024:EC releases calendar

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The Electoral Commission (EC) will receive nominations of candidates for this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections from September 9 to 13 in a major countdown to the climax of the political season.

This will be followed by the balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper on September 23, 2024, and the parliamentary balloting on September 24, 2024.

Furthermore, the EC expects to declare the results of the 2024 presidential polls within three days of the voting exercise, if everything goes according to plan.

In its programme of activities for the 2024 general election, obtained exclusively by the Daily Graphic, the EC will conduct a voters’ registration exercise from May 7 to May 27, 2024, and proceed with a nationwide exercise to replace missing voter ID cards from May 30, 2024.

The registration exercise will, however, be preceded by 56 days of public education on the exercise from April 1 to May 26, 2024.

Per the schedule, available to the Daily Graphic, the EC intends to submit the provisional voters’ register to the political parties between July 9 and 18, 2024, and mount an exhibition of the voters register between July 15 and 24, 2024.

The final voters register is expected to be submitted to the political parties between August 30 and September 5, 2024.

Meetings

In between the datelines, the EC — per the schedule — will hold meetings with stakeholders outside the political parties frame, and also engage the public through its “Let the Citizen Know” series.

Sources within the EC said this exercise was intended to ensure that all stakeholders understood and appreciated the efforts towards a free and fair electoral process in order to eliminate any tendencies for suspicion and mistrust.

The exercise, the source said, would be in line with the EC’s mandate to ensure and enhance open and transparent operations of the electoral processes.

The sources at the EC told the Daily Graphic that the EC would be holding its Special Voting for selected professionals on December 2, five days before the main polls.

It will be opened for security agencies and accredited media practitioners who would be performing duties during election day on December 7, 2024.

All the dates are, however, subject to review, the sources indicated to the Daily Graphic.

Results

The sources said although there was no law requiring the EC to declare the results within a specified period, the EC intended to ensure that it would be able to declare the presidential results within a maximum of three days.

The sources indicated that the Regional Collation Centres would be maintained to announce the results at the regional level.

Source: Graphiconline

News, Politics

We’re against shifting election date to November – NDC

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has kicked against the proposal by the Electoral Commission to change the election date from December 7 to November 7.

The proposal was raised during the recent Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024.

The Electoral Commission not only suggested a shift in the election date but also recommended that election days be designated as national holidays.

But the Director of Elections and IT for the NDC, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, rejected the proposal, expressing the party’s strong opposition to any alteration in the established election timeline.

In response to the proposal, Dr. Omane Boamah emphasized the party’s commitment to maintaining the current election date and urged the Electoral Commission to embark on a comprehensive review of the electoral process.

He stressed the importance of inclusive and proper dialogue to address any concerns or improvements needed in the electoral system.

Despite the NDC’s firm stance against changing the election date, Dr. Omane Boamah highlighted the party’s willingness to engage in discussions about voting on prayer or worship days.

He provided details to support the argument that voting on prayer or worship days does not adversely affect the overall turnout of the elections.

Below is Dr Omane Boamah’s response

On IPAC matters, for the avoidance of doubt:

1. We (NDC) do not support the November date for elections.

2. ⁠Instead of cherry-picking, we (NDC) call for a comprehensive review of the electoral process through inclusive and proper dialogue; we already submitted our proposals to the EC.

3. ⁠On voting on prayer/worship days, we (NDC) are open to discussions.

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com